Cardassian writing was composed of slender rectangular letters usually widening at the top. Lines of text were written both horizontally and vertically, radiating out from an elaborate circle motif. Lines of text also incorporated dots. (TNG: "Chain of Command, Part II"; DS9: "Tribunal", "Things Past")

Cardassian military uniforms included a section of writing in gold on the right chest. It is unknown what this writing meant, though by the placement, it may be conjectured that it was the name of the wearer, or of the vessel or unit to which they were assigned, or possibly the Cardassian equivalent of rank insignia.

"Odo'ital" was Cardassian for "nothing". Odo was called odo'ital when he was studied at the Bajoran Institute of Science. The Bajorans working at the institute intended to label Odo as "unknown sample", but all specimens had to be labelled in Cardassian, and Odo stated that the Bajorans mistranslated the term by incorrectly using "odo'ital", which literally meant "nothing". (DS9: "Heart of Stone")